Vamana Purana — Shukra's Curse on King Danda, Shloka 8

Shukra’s Curse on King Danda and Andhaka’s Challenge to Shiva

Devanagari script

संपूज्य देवमीशानं गालवस्तु विधानतः कृतजप्यः समध्यास्ते कन्याभ्यामबिवादितः

Transliteration

saṃpūjya devamīśānaṃ gālavastu vidhānataḥ kṛtajapyaḥ samadhyāste kanyābhyāmabivāditaḥ

Translation

Having duly worshipped the god Īśāna, Galava—according to prescribed procedure—performed his recitations and sat in meditation, being respectfully greeted by the two maidens.

Speakers

• Narrator describing Galava’s ritual actions; maidens offer respectful greeting.

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Īśāna)

Key Themes

• Ritual propriety (vidhi)
• Japa and meditation
• Reverence shown by celestial beings
• Shaiva devotional frame within a tirtha narrative

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who is Īśāna in this verse—Shiva or Vishnu?

Īśāna is classically a Shaiva epithet, denoting Shiva as ‘the Lord’ and also one of Shiva’s directional/aspectual forms. The verse’s devotional action (pūjā, japa, meditation) is directed to this Īśāna.

What does “vidhānataḥ” imply about Galava’s conduct?

It indicates adherence to ritual prescription—proper sequence, purity, and authorized method—highlighting dharmic correctness, a recurring Purāṇic emphasis when describing sages at sacred places.

Why would celestial maidens salute a human sage?

Purāṇic etiquette often portrays devas and celestial beings honoring tapasvins because ascetic power (tapas) and dharma confer spiritual authority that even heavenly beings acknowledge.